Ride Report: Mass Pike Bike - Day 1

14 Aug 2008.
I arrived at the departure location just before 7am to a very nearly empty parking lot. In a short amount of time, people started filling the lot (primarily the support staff at first). Everyone was required to signed in, gave emergency contact information, and receive their cue sheets, as well as a map of each day's route. Also available were basic breakfast fixings, such as donuts, bagels, bread, peanut butter, and fresh fruit.

0740 - Unpacking cars under a clear sky

After some milling around, waiting for people to arrive, unpack, socialize, etc. everyone was welcomed to the ride and we were given basic instructions (use "car up," "car back" for approaching cars, "passing left" when passing a slower cyclist, etc) and then broken up into our respective distances.

The 30 & 50 mile riders would have official group leaders and SAG support, whereas the 65 riders would only have SAG support. (The thought being most longer distance riders, read more experienced, don't want to be tethered by a group leader). There was one complaint about this decision (a 65 who would have proffered a group leader), and the organizers acknowledged it and commented they were looking into offering that as on option next year (2008 was the 2nd year this ride had been run).

In the 65 miler meeting, our SAG support driver, Doug, went over the cue sheet and added some last minute touches (this is your 1st left, your water stop is here, etc.). He also reiterated feedback, both positive and negative was extremely desired.

There were no plans for a mass exodus, so when the first group assembled I jumped right on their wheels. Furthermore, on of the organizers was going to be in this group. I assumed I wouldn't have to worry with my cue sheet, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Two hundred feet into the ride, I knew I was going to be in trouble. I was riding my trusty '05 Bianchi Volpe with full fenders, rack, and panniers (read: not a light/fast bike). Needless to say, going 24+mph on the flat was not something I was going to be able to do for very long.

The second problem, which would show up later, was the staff member in our group hadn't put together the 65 mile ride, he had put together the 50. Meaning he didn't know the route any better than us. Combine this with the fact that the pace setters ride in that area, meant they thought they knew better than the cue sheet.

That's not to say the sheets were perfect, far from it. Cue sheets in Massachusetts are always hampered by the fact that every street does not have a sign, and names change on straightaways.

So we blaze out of the school parking lot in a fast paceline and three miles later, double back to rejoin the tour, after turning right when we should have turned left.

After that blazing start we settled into a speed somewhere in the 18-22mph range. Still outside my comfort zone, but far closer. At one quick light, we awarded sprinters points to whomever could reach a construction sign first (6pts - Arnie, 4pts - Fred, 2pts - Jack). 5 miles or so after that sprinting fun, I realized I was going to be in real trouble soon.

There was a short steep hill and everyone in the group down shifted to spin up the hill. I don't like spinning, so I picked a large gear and powered up the hill and right into a massive Oxygen deficit, I simply could not get enough O2 into my lungs. Fortunately steady breathing and an easing back of the pace fixed that problem for me, the gap I had built up was sufficient for me to return to form.

Needless to say, when we hit the serious climbs around mile 30, I was dropped pretty quickly, having expended far to much energy early on. By this point my average speed was 18.8 mph. At the finish it would be 13.0 (this due in part to the first half of the rides numbers being accidentally wiped out in a cyclecomputer mishap).

Fundamentally there were three groups of 65 milers on day 1. The self proclaimed "A-team," which I was struggling to ride with, consisting of 6 strong riders and me. The so called "B-team" consisting of a larger group of riders, not as fast, but much more consistent (we passed them 3 or 4 times that first day). And finally Team Arizona consisting of two ladies wearing AZ jerseys (more on them later).

At one point passing the "B-team," there was an acceleration I just could not keep up with, so I paced the "B-team" through some light climbs and flats before shuffled to the back on the harder climbs. Until eventually, I was shuffled right off the back.

Before you get the wrong idea, every group I've mentioned would wait up for slower members; however at some point you have to right the stragglers off. And when it starts to rain, that window of time becomes infinitely small.

Ya, It rained. Big time.

Coming into Mendon, the skies were threatening, so much so I took my rain gear out, and put my cue sheet in a plastic bag. Lucky timing too, as the skies opened up soon after. Thunder, lightening, the works.

And it is at this point that I am dropped for the last time. I solo navigated to the Whitinsville camp just in time for the rain to stop. Which is perfect tent pitching weather.

All in all a good ride, very tiring. All my training to date had been on distance, not on speed so asking my body to start out that fast was going to have consequences, which it did, I slowed down.

I knew after arriving at camp that I wasn't going to be going with that group again. I figured I'd join the B-team, since their pace seemed closer to my training paces I figured I'd be ok. But, it was a chance meeting at dinner that changed those plans.

I was standing behind one of the members of team AZ as she was relating a story to the person in front of her. I don't recall the details, but I believe she was relating how she was stopping and taking pictures while other groups were just motoring on. I joined in the conversation, echoing that sentiment. Ultimately, we decided to team up on the next day.

A word on the food, before I end this massive post. Awesome. Arnie, whom you may recall from the A-team green jersey competition, has ridden many similar tours and said, without doubt, the food on this tour was the best. This day it was salad fixings, mac & cheese, cole slaw, corn bread, beans and rice, and massive BBQ. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and ribs galore. Tre bein

Distance:  64.6 miles
Climbing:   2777 ft
Ave Speed: 18.8 / 13.0
Max Speed: ? / 35.8 mph
Time: ?

Cycle-computer reset mid-trip